Four Walls

Gender Disparity highly Evident in Victorian Society Tess of D'Urbervilles There was a wide difference between men and women in Victorian society in terms of societal expectations. Moreover, in the Victorian era, there were different moral standards for both men and women.  The term disparity refers to difference or inequality. The various forms of gender disparity in Tess of the d’Urbervilles are discussed below: 

Evolutionary Meliorism in Victorian Society  in the Tess of D'Urbervilles Instead of viewing himself as a pessimist, Hardy regarded himself as an “evolutionary meliorist” (Bailey 569). In a conversation with William Archer, Hardy claimed that his “practical philosophy had been melioristic (rather than pessimistic) and that his books had been a plea against man's inhumanity to man — to woman, and to the lower animals” (319). According to The American Heritage Dictionary, meliorism refers to “The belief that the human condition can be improved through concerted effort” (n.p). Meliorism also refers to “The belief that there is an inherent tendency toward progress or improvement in the human condition” ( https://www.yourdictionary.com/meliorism). In other words, Hardy believed that the human plight can be improved through consistent, dedicated effort. 

Overview of  Pessimism in Tess of the d’Urbervilles  According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary , pessimism refers to a “feeling that bad things will happen or that something will not be successful” (1129). A pessimistic worldview implies that the worst will happen or that evil will ultimately prevail over goodness. Following are some of the instances in Tess of the d’Urbervilles that reinforce a pessimistic worldview.